Hindu outfits to rally in Pragya’s support in Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 18 (IANS) The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Tuesday announced a “huge agitation” here Nov 26 against the “indiscriminate arrests” of Hindu religious activists in the name of terrorism, saying it was meant “to fight against the atrocities being done on the majority community”.“We haven’t laid out all the details of the programme but there is going to be a huge agitation against the government on Nov 26 in Delhi, to be convened by the recently formed Dharm Raksha Manch,” Delhi VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal told IANS.

The Dharm Raksha Manch was formed during the Nov 16 Panipat conclave organised by the Sangh Parivar “to fight against the atrocities being done on the majority community”.

Bansal said the capital will be divided into “six zones and each zone will be headed by a leader or sant”.

The agitation will include rallies and foot marches and the Manch is expected to take a decision Wednesday where or if all the rallies would assemble at one common point.

Apart from sadhus of various Hindu sects, VHP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders attending the Panipat conclave, at least two senior BJP leaders - party president Rajnath Singh and Uttarakhand Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri were also present.

Rajnath Singh openly came out in support of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, who has been arrested for her alleged role in the Sep 29 Malegaon blast. On Tuesday, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani finally broke his silence on the issue and released a statement extending his support to the Sadhvi.

The VHP emphasised that no political person would be holding any position in the Manch. However, the organisation spokesperson added that “any political party who want join us is most welcome”.

An indication towards such an agitation was already given by VHP’s international general secretary Praveen Togadia Monday.

Togadia had declared a countrywide agitation, which could “get aggressive” if need be in support of the Sadhvi.